For an evening devoted to a man who could be our future president, Barack Rock felt strangely like a trip into the past.

Deep breath. The concert was hosted by Stella, whose members were in the ’90s comedy troupe the State, and it featured music by Joan as Police Woman, the frontwoman of which played violin in the underrated ’90s band the Dambuilders; newly reunited underrated ’90s band Shudder to Think; Nina Persson, leader of the Cardigans, a ’90s band that was appreciated almost as much as it should have been; and OK Go (I have no idea what they were doing in the ’90s).

But hey, why not? All this talk about hope and change is awfully reminiscent of a time when we were all singing, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.”

The previously mentioned performers (plus a few special guests) took the stage at the Bowery Ballroom Monday night to honor Barack Obama, the man who, according to Stella, said, “Four score and seven years ago” and “You gotta fight for your right to party.”

Between bands, Michael Ian Black, David Wain and Michael Showalter acted as geysers of misinformation (”If you can’t get to the polls Tuesday, you can go Wednesday. They’re also open Thursday.”) and at one point introduced Obama supporter Caroline Kennedy, who bore a striking resemblance to Paul Rudd.

London’s Alberta Crossing started the show by declaring their approval for the senator on behalf of England. Joan as Police Woman’s short, creeping set ended with a song titled “Are You Not Furious” to get us motivated for the polls. And Showalter’s musical side project, the Doilies, dished out the commandments of sandwich-making, which include “Mustard goes with everything” (no!) and “Sun-dried tomatoes are total bullsh–” (yes!).

But Shudder to Think were the main event for many people in the audience. The band broke up in ‘98 and seeing singer Craig Wedren and guitarist Nathan Larson onstage together was reason enough to celebrate. Wedren looks and sounds exactly like he did 15 years ago, including the impossibly high voice that can always seem to float higher. He was obviously giddy about the evening (he set the whole thing up, after all) and spent the set grinning and bouncing around, which isn’t always easy given the band’s penchant for suddenly shifting time signatures.

For its last two songs, the band was joined by Persson, who is also Larson’s wife. (If you’re looking for further connections, Wedren is the brother-in-law of the State’s Thomas Lennon, and Shudder drummer Kevin March was also in the Dambuilders. This show was practically a family reunion.) After singing with the band, Persson introduced her new project, Birds, which also features Amy Miles and, oddly enough, Jack White’s wife, model Karen Elson. The women, in baby-doll dresses and dangerously high heels, sang hymn-like three-part harmonies, and I was reminded of the Siren scene in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

After seeing Shudder to Think, I had the feeling there was nowhere to go but down. Sure enough, headliners OK Go proved to be pretty dull without their treadmills. They sound like they’ve followed all the instructions for perfect pop but forgotten to add whatever humor or soul or sex actually makes a great song. Still, they look good in suits, the guitarist played despite having had a wisdom tooth removed that day (seriously, wow), and they can all jump in the air and land at exactly the same time, which is a skill, I guess?

At the very end of the night, everyone came back out for a sing-along of the Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year.” Microphones and lyrics sheets were shared, and everyone walked away eager for a good night’s sleep and a big day at the polls. Tuesday, that is. Don’t go Wednesday.

For more info and to check out video clips of the show, go to GetUpAndVote.com.

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